HC Deb 09 November 1988 vol 140 cc191-2W
Mr. Pawsey

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out in theOfficial Report the truancy rates for each local education authority for each of the past five years.

Mr. Butcher

This information is not available centrally. Under the Education Acts, the responsibility for taking action on truancy rests with local education authorities. They are not required to submit information about truancy to my right hon. Friend, but they should ensure that attendance levels in their schools are monitored and that action is taken to keep them under control.